SCS Tech Drop

November 2025

In This Edition...

🙏 Director's Blog: Thankful for the Work We Do
🎙️Spotlight Feature: Giving Students a Voice!
💻 Who to Call for Help...Tech Department vs. Instructional Coaches
📚 Tool Spotlight: Google Class Tools
📊 Highly Utilized Instructional Tools Used In September
📂 From the SCS Tech Drop Archives

🎨 Canva for Education – District Team Access

📊 Evolving GenAI Practice – New "Levels of AI Use in Class" Poster
Transition from 📝GradeCam to 🍐Pear Assessment
🚀 Google Classroom + PowerSchool Integration Arrives!

💬 From the Help Desk

🔐 Allowed Programs & Student Data Privacy (Senate Bill 29)
🎯 Programs with a Purpose
👥 Student-Teacher Google Accounts

As we head into November, a month centered around gratitude and reflection, I want to take a moment to say thank you. In the rush of keeping our systems running, our classrooms engaging, and our schools thriving, it is easy to overlook just how much goes right each day because of the dedication of so many people across our district.

The work we do in technology is often invisible when it is done well. A smooth login, a functioning classroom display, a secure network, or a Chromebook that simply works are all the result of countless hours of effort, planning, and collaboration. Our technicians, data team, and coaches quietly support thousands of students and staff each day, ensuring that learning continues without interruption. Every SchoolDude ticket resolved, every device repaired, and every update applied contributes to a learning environment where students can focus on what matters most: growing, creating, and achieving.

But the gratitude does not stop with technology. Our teachers continue to find innovative ways to blend instruction and technology, adapting lessons to meet the needs of every learner. Their creativity and resilience bring digital tools to life in the classroom. Our instructional coaches support that work every step of the way, helping educators find new pathways to engagement and empowering them to take risks in their practice. Our administrators, from building principals to district leadership, play a vital role in making all of this possible. They model patience, balance, and vision while navigating an ever-changing educational landscape and keeping students and staff at the center of every decision. Their leadership helps shape a culture where innovation and collaboration are not just encouraged but expected.

We also cannot forget the people who keep our schools running behind the scenes: our secretaries, custodians, paraprofessionals, transportation staff, and food service teams. They are often the first faces students see each morning and the last ones they see before heading home. Their consistency and care create stability and provide the quiet foundation upon which everything else is built.

This season is a reminder that gratitude fuels culture. A simple "thank you" after a long day, a kind note of recognition, or even a moment to pause and reflect can have a powerful ripple effect. Together, we make Strongsville City Schools more than a district; we make it a community.

As we move through November and approach the holiday season, I hope we all take a moment to appreciate not just what we do, but who we do it with. Every role, every effort, and every act of service contributes to our shared mission of empowering learning through innovation, connection, and care.

Thank you for all you do and for making Strongsville City Schools a place where excellence, collaboration, and heart shine through in every classroom, hallway, and department.

Strongsville students are finding their voice, literally! With our new podcasting kits available in every elementary school and SMS, and a dedicated studio space at SHS, students can now record, edit, and share their ideas just like the pros.

Using Screencastify on their Chromebooks, students can easily record their podcasts with a clear microphone connection and simple editing tools. Just open Screencastify, click “Record,” and let their creativity flow!

Whether it’s a classroom project, a book reflection, an interview with a guest speaker, or a club’s weekly update, podcasting is an exciting way for students to show what they know while building confidence, creativity, and real-world communication skills.

From learning how to organize their thoughts and speak clearly to collaborating as hosts, editors, and producers, podcasting transforms learning into a hands-on, high-energy experience. It’s not just about talking. It’s about thinking, connecting, and creating!

So, plug in the mic, press record, and let your students’ voices be heard!

“Muraski Classroom Chatter” Podcast

A group of 5th-grade students has been learning and practicing podcasting skills over the past month with the guidance and encouragement of Laurie Beetler. They’ve recorded several test episodes and two official podcasts featuring Mr. Griffin and Mrs. Cooney — with more to come!

Podcasting Made Simple

This compact podcasting kit (featuring a student Chromebook, USB microphone, and Screencastify) makes it easy for students to share their voices and stories.

Students in our SMS journalism elective used the podcasting kits to record voice-over narratives for their feature videos, seamlessly combining storytelling, audio editing, and video production to create professional-quality projects.

As we continue to integrate technology across classrooms and all learning spaces, it’s important to know where to turn for support. Our goal is to make sure your questions reach the right team quickly, saving you valuable time and ensuring you get the help you need.

🔧 Tech Department (SchoolDude Tickets)
Submit a SchoolDude ticket when something is broken, missing, or not functioning properly.
Examples include:

Chromebook, projector, or printer not working
Network or Wi-Fi issues
Login or password problems
Device replacements, repairs, or software installations

These tickets go directly to our Technology Department, where our technicians and network staff can diagnose and resolve the issue.

💡 Instructional Coaches
Reach out to your Instructional Coach when you need help using technology for teaching and learning.
Examples include:

Integrating tools like Pear Deck, Screencastify, or GimKit into lessons
Designing digital assessments (Pear Assessment) or AI-infused (Magic School) activities
Troubleshooting Google Classroom workflows
Exploring new tech tools to enhance engagement or differentiation

Instructional Coaches focus on supporting instruction, not repair. They can help you design lessons, model classroom strategies, or find creative ways to use district-approved tools effectively.

In short:
If it’s not working, submit a SchoolDude ticket.
If you’re trying to make it work better for learning, contact your Instructional Coach.

With the update to ChromeOS-138, Class Tools are now available. Google’s new Class Tools make it easier for teachers to guide learning, share content, and support every student in real time.

⚠️ Important Notice about Google Class Tools - These new features only work between two district-managed Chromebooks. These tools will not function on Windows, Mac, or personal devices.

Feature in Focus: Live Captions and Translations

Built-in, real-time captions and translations help language learners and students with hearing needs follow lessons more easily. Audio is captured through the teacher’s device and displayed as text on teacher or student screens.

Other features include quick resource sharing to student Chromebooks and basic single student screen viewing or projecting options for classroom monitoring and collaboration. However, these functions are not as fully developed or feature-rich as those currently available in Blocksi.

For a quick look at these features in action, check out Google’s overview video.

Gizmos – students explore science and math concepts through hands-on virtual labs
Typing Agent – students strengthen keyboarding and digital literacy skills
Screencastify – students are creating videos and podcasts to share their insights or present their learning
Magic School AI – students get ideas, feedback, and personalized support for their work
Pear Deck – students interact with lessons in real time and share their thinking
Pear Assessment – students show what they know with quick, engaging assessments

🎨 Canva for Education – District Team Access

We know many staff members have already joined Canva and noticed “building groups” popping up. Unfortunately, those groups are not something we control and anyone can create them.

To simplify access and provide consistency, we’ve created a district-wide Canva Team. By joining this team, you’ll have:

✅ Full premium access to Canva for Education
✅ The ability to share templates and designs district-wide
✅ Central approval from the tech department to keep everything streamlined

✅ You do not need to leave any current groups to join

How to join our SCS District Canva Team:

Click HERE to verify your scsmustangs.org account as an Educator account.
Click HERE to join out team.
The Technology Department will approve your request.

This setup ensures everyone has access to the same powerful design tools, while keeping sharing and collaboration simple across the district.

NEW: We have updated the Team to have a Branding Kit to include district logos and colors.

📊 Evolving GenAI Practice – New "Levels of AI Use in Class" Poster

Check out Version 2 of our Levels of AI Use in Class poster! This updated framework helps educators reflect on their current AI integration and plan next steps to elevate instruction, support student agency, and use Magic School AI ethically and purposefully. Visit our Generative AI resource page to learn more!

📊 Assessment Update: Transition from GradeCam to Pear Assessment

As part of our continued effort to streamline resources and strengthen instructional tools, GradeCam will be phased out at the end of this school year. Moving forward, Strongsville City Schools main assessment system will be Pear Assessment.

Pear Assessment offers several key advantages:

State Alignment: Question types mirror OST formats and support multimodal design.
Comprehensive Reporting: Provides data on growth, subgroups, and standards mastery in one place.
Accessibility Tools: Includes built-in read-aloud, calculators, and other student supports.
Secure Testing: Features a kiosk mode to maintain test integrity.
Flexible Options: Supports both digital and paper-based bubble sheet testing.

This unified platform reduces redundancy, simplifies management, and ensures a consistent experience for students and teachers.

Time will be provided during upcoming PD sessions to learn Pear and migrate existing assessments. The Curriculum and Technology Departments will continue to offer training, resources, and support throughout the transition.

We appreciate everyone’s flexibility and commitment as we take this important step to enhance assessment practices and student learning across the district.

🚀 Google Classroom + PowerSchool Integration Arrives!

Google Classroom now supports integration with PowerSchool SIS, making your workflow smoother than ever. Starting now, you can export grades from Classroom directly into PowerTeacher Pro, and import student rosters, co-teacher access, and grading categories from PowerSchool into Classroom.

Click HERE to learn more!

No Tech Ticket = We Can't Help You

As we kick off the school year, the Technology Department is focused on building readiness, device rollouts, and classroom setup. To help us respond quickly, please submit a tech ticket for any issues you encounter. The sooner we know, the faster we can assist.

You can now easily access the Tech Ticket and Maintenance Request forms from the SCS Bookmarks folder in your Chrome browser.

If you have questions about how to submit a ticket, reach out to your building tech or check out the following resources:

Allowed Programs / Student Data Privacy

Senate Bill 29 requires all school districts to ensure that student data is protected when using online tools. At SCS, we take this responsibility seriously. Our Approved Programs List includes only tools that meet privacy and security standards. Before using a new app or website with students, please check the list or reach out to the Tech Department.

If you don’t see your program listed, please complete this survey to submit it for review.

🎯 Programs with a Purpose

Our instructional programs are designed to support strong, Tier 1 instruction across all grade levels.

Need a refresher or quick start guide? Visit Mustang University for these resources or explore our Generative AI resources at Magic School at SCS to enhance your lessons.

Student-Teacher Google Accounts

With our Learning Ecosystem being heavily dependant on Google WorkSpace, student-teachers can request a SCSMUSTANGS Google account by completing this FORM. These accounts do not have access to PowerSchool or other purchased programs. All communications to students/families needs to continue to come from the cooperating teacher, not the student-teacher.

In This Edition...

🙏 Director's Blog: Thankful for the Work We Do 🙏 Director's Blog: Thankful for the Work We Do

🎙️Spotlight Feature: Giving Students a Voice! 🎙️Spotlight Feature: Giving Students a Voice!

“Muraski Classroom Chatter” Podcast

Podcasting Made Simple

💻 Who to Call for Help...Tech Department vs. Instructional Coaches 💻 Who to Call for Help...Tech Department vs. Instructional Coaches

📚 Tool Spotlight: Google Class Tools 📚 Tool Spotlight: Google Class Tools

📊 Highly Utilized Instructional Tools Used In September 📊 Highly Utilized Instructional Tools Used In September

📂 From the SCS Tech Drop Archives 📂 From the SCS Tech Drop Archives